(10% complete) Waikari was once the gateway to the West Coast of the South Island, particularly when the gold fields opened during the 1860’s. The small township lies on the Waiau branch of what was the Great Northern Railway, which ran inland and was later superceded by a more coastal route.

Waikari now lies at the end of a preserved portion of that branch of the railway along which heritage trains are now operated via the Weka Pass Railway.

Waikari is probably best known for being the home of the Corriedale sheep, bred in 1868 by James Little, New Zealand’s first distinct indigenous breed.

The Waikari cemetery services the Waikari urban and rural areas and the Scargill Valley. It is still in use today and the local council reports it is at 49% capacity. The views from the cemetery are spectacular, so valued must these views have been that the “front rows” with the best outlook contain the grandest headstones.

High-resolution photographs of the grave are available, plus one or two of the cemetery/church if applicable. This includes a full transcription, particularly for those stones that are hard to read or eroded.

ALLAN, J A MacDonald Captain (d. 20th May, 1918). Royal Air Force. Died as a result of injuries sustained while flying at Redcar, Yorkshire, England. Age 23.

ALLAN, John (d.10th August, 1925). Age 81. Also his wife Jeanie, nee Forrester, d. 23rd May, 1941. Sheepfarmer, Park View Farm, Waikari. John Allan was born in Dumbartonshire, Scotland, in 1846, and received his education at Cumbernauld. Read more.

LITTLE, Janet (d. 20th June, 1890). Died at Allandale age 25 and 10 months. Eldest daughter of James and Mary Little. Also Mary Telfor Little, wife of James Little (1834 – 1921), who died 10th May, 1906, at Dalmeny.